The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-11-25
Barnum's Big Show Burned.
TERRIBLE SCENE IN THE MAMMOTH
CIRCUS AT BRIDGEPORT, CONN.


BRIDGEPORT DEPOT, Conn, Nov 90
The main building of Barnum and
Baileys Greatest Show on Earth was
entirely destroyed by fire this evening
at 1890. One Of the watchmen was
in the horse room. His lantern ex
ploded, ignitipg the hay and straw. A
general alarm was sounded and the en-
tire Fire Department turned out. Thou
sands Of people rushed in the direction
of the big blaze, but in less than thirty
minutes the great building was utterly
consumed. The first information of
the fire was from the roars of the lions
and tigers. They seemed TO realize
approa ,hing danger. Next the ele.
plants struggled in their chains, nut
in an incredibly short space of time
the flames were sweeping from one end
of the building to the other. Before
the first alarm had ceased sourding thu
entire affair was mass of fire. The
men dared not approach the building,
being fearful of the crazed animals.
Three elephants were burned up and
tbirty-s others broke from their ban
dages and dashed through the sides
of the burning building Their roars
and trumpetings and sounds of torment
were terrific. Six elephants and
large African hippopotamus rushed
about the burning building and then
escaped through the streets Of Bridge
port They all presented a sickening
appearance. The herd of elephants
and one big lion have started off over
Fairfield county towards Fairfield, and
Easton. The greatest alarm has seized
great many of the residents of the
west end. The lions and tigers were
kept in wooden temporary cages. 1t
was impossible to draw these clumsy
affairs out of the building. The howIs
of the beasts drove people half orazv
with fear. When it was realized that
possibly some Of the animals might
escape, the inhabitants barrlcaded
their doors and windows and hid them
selves inside their houses. The entire
police force is out and reign of terror
prevails. Everybody 10 helpless against
the roaming elephants and lions. Will.
lam Newman, the elephant trainer, is
out Of town and the keepers are not
able, in their excitement, to herd these
frig tened animals.
The main building of the show was
600 feet long, 200 feet wide and two
stories high. The upper portion was
filed with hay and with all the para
phernalia of the great show. In the
horse-room were all the ring horses
trained stations, ponies, &c. Thee
were all burned. In the upper rooms
were tents, poles, seata, plumes, faga,
and all the harness for the entire show,
both for street parade and ring per
formance. All we're burned. Iu the
cat.room were birds, monkeys, three
rhinoceroses, hyenas, tigers, lions and
all the menagerie. In the elephant
pen all the huge Great ures were kept
Three of them were burned to death.
So quick was the spread Of the flames
that no attempt was made to save the
building. The firemen turned their
feeble water supply on the chariot
buildings and car sheds, which they
succeeded in saving. All the chariots
and tableau wagons were run out and
saved. The heat was 80 intense that
it was with the greatest difficulty the
other buildings were preserved.
Before the building was down to the
ground Barnum's agents were busily
making arrangements for a new lot of
structures to supply the loss. Mr..
Brothwell, Barnum's Bridgeport agent,
said the show building would be re
built. but not in Bridgeport. The
great show will probably go to Jersey
City, where greater railroad facilities
can be had. There was but 100000
insurance The loss is about $7OO,OOO.